The Tribe of the v. Horben zu Ringenberg

Knights and "Dienstmannen" of the counts "von Montfort-Bregenz",

also called "die Horber, v. Horwin, v. Horwun, v. Horvy,

v. Horwen"

As I determined, the coat of arms of my great-grandfather has a large similarity with the family crest of the "von Horben zu Ringenberg ", which is on a gravestone at the church of Gestratz/Allgäu. There is the possibility, that the painter of the coat of arms took a "loan" there.

Or is there any connection, which type however ? (e.g. Dietz der Horber 1397 in Ravensburg became civil).

The coat of arms is also portrayed in the "Siebmacher" (book).

 
Gravestone of "Heinrich u. Rudolf v. Horben zu Ringenberg"

Originally the coat of arms of the "von Horben" contained only the arrows, the thorn ring was added later when squaring the crest. In the Horber-Coat of arms the thorn ring is replaced by a leaves ring.

The thorn ring usually emerges in the heraldry in context with the participation in a crusade. The coat of arms of the "noble ones of Horben" is already shown in the famous "Zurich Roll of Arms" (around 1340).

HORW, Crest Roll of Zurich (Switzerland)

Also the Seal of the Dietrich von Horben (S. Diedrici de Horwn, 1370) contains three (to the left above arranged) arrows.

For the first time the tribe is demonstrable since 1180 (Ottenbeurer Totenbuch - dead person-book - Diakon Walter v. Horwun).

Parallel to it, there was still a same-named tribe of "Dienstmannen" of the Monastery St. Gallen, that possibly was from the same tribe (testified 1223 - 1427)

The knights "v. Horben z. R." 1365 had the castle of Rohr near Waltenhofen in possession. The Tribe-castle "Horben" 1416 already was no longer property of the family.

The brothers Rudolf u. Heinrich (+ 1506 u. 1509), buried in Gestratz, both had the high office of an advice of King Maximilian (1486 - 1519 - Innsbruck). There were yet several v. Horben with important functions and offices.

1760 the "Freiherren v. Horben auf Ringenberg" belong to the "Schwäbische Reichsritterschaft" (Swabian empire- knight-shaft).

The castle Ringenberg 1431 passed over into the possession of the "von Horben zu Ringenberg". 1776 it had already to be sold however, because of the insolvency of the owners, to a farmer in Gestratz (from there named castle-farmer), after the attempt of a compulsion auction had failed. The citadel was still inhabited until 1892, 1927 they demolished it mainly.

The tribe of the "v. Horben z.R." 1832 became extinct with the Baron "Anselm von Horben zu Ringenberg".

From the castel Ringenberg to my knowledge only a few stones are to be found, (I have searched for it in vaine).